(June
20, 2014) The
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) is expanding Route
55 to serve the new Charlotte Premium Outlets beginning June 30. The
outlet mall plans to have its Grand Opening on July 31.

Route 55 currently
travels from the Sharon Road West LYNX station along Westinghouse
Blvd to Westlake Business Park. From Westlake Business Park, it
travels north on Steele Creek Rd, turns right on Brown-Grier Rd,
turns right on Whitehall Park Dr, and turns right on S Tryon St,
returning to Westinghouse Blvd. The loop on Brown-Grier Rd,
Whitehall Park Dr, and S Tryon St is being discontinued.

The new route will
continue to go along Westinghouse Blvd to Westlake Business Park but
will stay on Steele Creek Rd, loop around Dixie River Rd and Shopton
Rd to serve the outlet mall, and return to the Sharon Road West LYNX
station along the same route as the outbound route,

Dixie River Rd
currently is being widened and is closed for construction. Until it
is open, the bus route will continue north on Steele Creek Rd, turn
left onto Shopton Rd, turn around at the traffic circle at Robbie
Cir, and return along the outbound route. Dixie River Rd should be
open by the time of the July 31 mall Grand Opening.

Once the streets
through the mall parking area are opened and a bus stop is
established adjacent to the mall, the route will be adjusted to use
a street (likely New Fashion Way) closer to the mall.

New weekend
service will also be added on both Saturday and Sunday. Direct trips
between the Sharon Road West LYNX Station and Westlake Dr will
continue to operate weekdays. Customers previously boarding the
Route 55 inbound along Westinghouse Blvd or Steele Creek Rd will
need to cross the street for trips back to the LYNX station.
Existing stops along Westinghouse Blvd and Steele Creek Rd may be
used to travel outbound to the new outlet mall.

The current route has a large number of riders going to or from
Westlake Business Park and the apartments on Steele Creek Rd but has
few riders on Brown-Grier Rd and Westlake Park Dr. Customers along
Brown-Grier Rd and Westlake Park Dr may walk to Steele Creek Road
for the 55 – Westinghouse route or to South Tryon Street for the 56
– Arrowood route.